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Monday, October 21, 2013

The MasalaWala

I love Indian food yet I find myself
ordering take out rather than going to restaurants. So when I was invited to a press dinner at The MasalaWala, I was thrilled! The
restaurant is understated and seats less than 30. The cuisine focuses on Indian
street food. My mouth immediately started watering when we received the menu.
The Kolkata Gobi Manchurian immediately stole the show.

I don't know why I've never
experienced such deliciousness in my life. The cauliflower was crispy and to
some extent it was difficult to tell it was cauliflower. The blend of
Indo-Chinese spices made this reminiscent of a high class general tso dish.
I was also a big fan of the Lamb Kakori Kebab.

In the last year lamb has reappeared
in my diet and this was probably the best I've eaten. The lamb is imported from
Australia, home of the world's best lamb. It is triple ground so it's
incredibly tender then grilled in the Tandoori. Simply to die for! The Chicken
Tikka was a close second.

The small chunks of chicken were
marinated overnight which definitely showed in the depth of the flavor. They
were then grilled in the Tandoori which cooked them to perfection. The samosas
were standard fare.

Definitely well seasoned and
thankfully not overstuffed but with so many other interesting dishes on the
table it was not the star. When the entrees started arriving my nose was having
a party thanks to all the amazing aromas. I absolutely loved the Nawabi Lamb
Biryani (bottom left).

The lamb was just as tender as the
Kebab. The rice was also cooked to perfection. The blend of flavors was what
made it so amazing. I definitely had dreams about the biryani the following
night and fully intend on calling in an order whenever I'm in the neighborhood.
The Chicken Kali Mirch was another great dish.

It had a unique flavor unlike
anything I've tried before. The black pepper chicken was blended with a variety
of spices reminiscent of curries I've tried before but with an extra kick.
The Lamb Pasanda was spectacular.

I really tasted the difference in
Australian lamb than what I've eaten elsewhere. I had high hopes for the Shrimp
Malabar. The flavors were right but the shrimp
was slightly overcooked, almost tough. The coconut curry was mild with
slight tamarind undertones.

Overall, I was quite pleased with the
selection at The MasalaWala. The mix of new dishes and familiar staples was
refreshing. I had to leave before dessert so I will definitely be back to try
it out!